Psychophysiological Study of the Information Theory of Emotions Using the Model of Positive Emotion

The pattern of interhemisphere distribution of EEG amplitude and frequency as a function of the levels of emotional experience and motivation as well as probability of the goal achievement was studied in 20 probands. An emotional state was evoked by simulating emotionally colored events. A modified test of Priseet al.(1985) was used to evaluate the level of motivation for the simulated event as well as the probability of goal achievement from the lengths of line segments marked by the probands. Here, we studied a simulated emotion of joy. The highest correlation coefficients were observed between the awareness and alpha activity in the both hemispheres. The levels of emotional experience and motivation inversely correlated with the delta and theta activity mostly in the left hemisphere. The beta activity correlated with both the emotional and motivation levels     

The reflection of emotional tension in the spatial synchronization of the biopotentials in the human brain

In organization of spatial synchronization of bioelectrical activity of the cerebral cortex emotions can play both the role of intensifier and disorganizer of this process. Emotions raise the level of spatial synchronization in situation of active work and may decrease initial background values of synchronization if they organize passive-defensive state.     

Reflection of the emotional experience, strength, intensity of drive and probability of its satisfaction in interhemispheric distribution of frequency-amplitude parameters of EEG

The character of interhemispheric distribution of frequency-amplitude parameters of EEG as a function of the strength of emotional experience, the intensity of drive, and the expected probability of its satisfaction were determined in human test subjects. The emotional state was aroused by an imaginary reproduction of emotionally colored events. The modified test by D. Price and co-authors was used where the subjects estimated the intensity of drive (the degree of undesirability of imaginary event) and the expected probability of its occurrence by the length of line segment. In this study, the simulation of anger was used. The highest correlation coefficients were observed between the expectation and power in the α-EEG-range in the left frontal region. The strength of emotional experience negatively correlated with the α-, θ-, and Δ-ranges. Statistically significant correlation was revealed between the intensity of drive and power of Δ- and θ-waves. The power of β-rhythm correlated with the strength of emotion as well as with the expectation and drive indices.     

Study of the preference of high probability of attaining the goal or its subjective value

The authors used testimonies of students on the dominant motives of joining a higher education institution as the behavioral model that prefers a high probability of the attainment of a goal or its subjective value. They compared the features of the motivation sphere related to the choice of profession with the psychophysiological data of 38 students of a sports higher education institution. The motivation of this choice was determined using a test questionnaire that permitted the authors to measure the subjective value (importance) and accessibility (probability of attainment) of the selected profession. The psychophysiological features were evaluated on two levels, i.e., formal dynamic (temperamental characteristics) and physiological (frequency and amplitude characteristics of EEG). The athlete students’ motivating factor of the choice of profession was shown to form under the influence of individual and typological features, which manifest themselves in psychomotor activity and total ergicity (working capacity), while accessibility experiences a negative influence of the temperamental characteristics in the intellectual sphere, as well as the total ergicity level. The background EEG was more activated in those who chose sports as their profession because of deeming it more valuable. In students who were attracted by the accessibility of this field, a lower cerebral activation level was observed, especially in the frontal zones of the left hemisphere.